Retro Expo took place on
05 and 06 December at the Business Design Centre in London. The event comprised of: The Retrofit Summit
- a one day policy conference on 05 December exploring the refurbishment and
energy efficient retrofit of existing buildings from a national, strategic
perspective. The Retrofit London
Conference – supported by the Mayor of London, this
event on 06 December explored the challenges and opportunities of low
carbon retrofits in the capital. A series of
workshops looking at the technical aspects of retrofits. An exhibition of
retrofit innovation including leading names such as
BASF, EDF, Kingspan, Travis Perkins and SIG360 Retrofit and The Retro Expo
Awards Ceremony - recognising excellence in retrofit products, projects and people across the domestic, commercial and public sector markets.

The Brighton and Hove residents living the green dream

13th November, 2013

Brighton and Hove’s credentials
as the only city with a Green MP and the only city with a Green council are
well known

But
unfortunately these two facts do not make the city an instant environmental
utopia.

Like
other cities, Brighton and Hove suffers from the effects of polluted air.

And its
high percentage of old housing stock means it suffers poor rates of energy
efficiency.

About
66% of city homes were built before 1945, compared to 42% in England and Wales.

As a
result, housing contributes 42% to the city’s carbon footprint – compared with
the national average of 28%.

Meanwhile 13,800 households are
in fuel poverty, meaning they cannot afford to adequately heat their homes.

Councillor Bill Randall, chairman of
the city council’s Housing Committee, said: “Far too many private sector
residents in Brighton and Hove live in fuel poverty and their number is
increasing remorselessly as fuel costs rise.

“Poorly
insulated, their homes leak energy and CO2 just like a sieve.”

So in
order to redress the balance, the Green Deal was created, offering to improve
energy efficiency in homes, with newboilers, cavity wall insulation and loft
insulation.

It is hoped 14 million UK
households will take up the offer longterm.

But
after its launch in January 2013, not a single home in Brighton and Hove has
had the work completed.

One
initiative to try and encourage take-up is the council’s Green Deal Pioneer
Places scheme.

Ten
residents have had up to £10,000-worth of free Green Deal energy improvements
to their homes.

Work
included external wall insulation — which wraps the outside of the building in
a layer of heat-saving insulation — new boilers, low energy lighting and loft
insulation.

The
scheme was a partnership with the Green Building Partnership, Low Carbon Trust
and Brighton and Hove 10:10, an independent campaign to cut carbon by 10% each
year.

Flemmich
Webb, chairman of Brighton and Hove 10:10, said: “This project shows that once
again Brighton and Hove is one of the leading cities in the country when it
comes to delivering innovative energy efficiency projects.

But
we’re not stopping here.

“Brighton
and Hove has some of the least energy efficient housing stock in the country,
so we will continue to look for funding to carry on with our work.”

Mr
Randall added: “By working closely with key city partners to identify and
embrace national schemes and grants as well as close work with key city
partners, we’re determined to improve residents’ homes, tackle fuel poverty and
reduce CO2 emissions.

“This
latest initiative shows how we can cut fuel poverty and tackle carbon emissions
by working together.”

In a
separate scheme, 60 hardup households will receive free home improvements to
make them warmer and cheaper to heat.

Any
tenant or homeowner aged above 60, with a disability or longterm health
condition, or a lowincome family can apply to have the improvement done.

It
follows a successful bid by Brighton and Hove City Council for the £410,000 government funding.

While
free offers are a good way of publicising efficiency measures, the Green Deal
will need to become more attractive to improve its take-up.

With
interest on the loans between 6% and 7%, councillors want to see something more
akin to the German model were interest rates are 1% to 2%.

Greg
Barker, minister for energy and climate change and MP for Bexhill and Battle,
defended the scheme, which he has pledged will make 14 million British homes
warmer and cheaper to heat.

He
said: “The Green Deal is an ambitious and uniquely longterm programme designed
to upgrade the energy efficiency of Britain’s homes.

“It’s
only just getting started, but the early signs are encouraging.

“It
will take time as this brand new market finds its legs, but I now expect the
number of plans signed to start steadily rising.”

Cllr
Bill Randall said: “With so little funding put aside for the scheme and cuts to
grants in favour of high interest loans, it’s no surprise to most that take-up
has been so low.

The
Argus spoke to some of the ten lucky householders who benefited from
the free improvements.

TOM
DALLOWAY, who lives with his partner in Uplands Road, said:
“We couldn’t believe it until the work started.

"We’ve
had the boiler replaced and cavity wall insulation. It was all done
within five days, it was really quick.

“We’re
definitely expecting to save money over the winter. We have an A+
rating so we expect significant savings. Our friends are very envious.

“I
don’t see how the scheme cannot work. If you can get the improvements
and pay for them through your energy bills it seems reasonable.”

SARAH
MANSFIELD-OSBOURNE, lives in Mile Oak Road with
her partner and two young sons and had a new boiler, cavity wall
insulation and loft insulation.

She
said: “It’s great now that it’s been done. The boiler’s been
much more efficient. We’re not sure how much we’ll be saving but hope
it will be significant.

“We wouldn’t
have been able to afford everything we had done without this project,
especially not the boiler.

“With
the loft insulation we thought we’d lose storage space but we’ve got
a new system where they cover the insulation with a mesh which means
you don’t lose any space.”

TERRY
CONWAY, who lives in a Queens Park Victorian terrace
with his wife had outer wall insulation.

He
said: “My mother’s mantra was ‘waste not, want not’ and
that’s something I’ve tried to live up to.

“We’re
looking to reap the full benefits particularly at the rear of
the house. When it’s blowing a gale it takes the full impact of
severe weather.

“It’s
like a brand-new house. The only difference is it’s a little bit
prouder and the windows are a little bit deeper, but from the front
you wouldn’t notice the difference.

“The
amount of people that stopped and stared when it was being fitted has
been phenomenal.”

DAVID
HAINES, of Newport Street, said: “When I moved in three
years ago the house was very cold and difficult to heat, because
warmth dispersed very quickly.

“I was
very pleased to be part of the scheme and it was very satisfying to
be part of eco open houses. I had 47 people round, with a lot of
interest.

“I’ve
had insulation on the inside of the front and insulation on
the outside at the rear.

“When
it comes to winter I’m hoping for a big improvement in
fuel consumption.

“I’ve
even had my sash windows double-glazed. A lot of people were very
interested in them, because they don’t look that different.

“I’ve
always been interested in being more green, the difficulty is getting
impartial advice and knowing what’s possible.”